Astypalaia is administratively part of the Dodecanese and it is the westernmost island of the group. The island is shaped like a butterfly with its wings spread; in the context of this imagery, the butterfly’s body is formed by a 100m sandy strip (named Steno), which divides Astypalaia into an inner and an outer island. It has a wild natural beauty, countless chapels, many bays, and many beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters. It is a place with a rich history and tradition.

Astypalaia is connected to Athens via a direct flight (journey duration: 45min) daily, all week except for Sundays. It is also connected to Kalymnos, Leros, Kos and Rhodes 3 times a week (Monday-Wednesday-Friday) by means of a single route that starts from Rhodes and ends up, via Kos and Leros, in Astypalaia (and vice versa).

The duration of the flight is 20 minutes for Leros, 60 minutes for Kos and about one and a half hours for Rhodes.

There are 5 routes every week from Astypalaia to Piraeus (the journey duration ranges from 8 to10 hours depending on the stops made), except for Tuesdays and Fridays. There are in-between stops at the ports of Syros, Paros, Naxos, Donousa and Amorgos before reaching the port of Agios Andreas in Astypalaia.

Also, there are ferry connections every week between Rhodes and Astypalaia (the journey duration is approx. 8 hours), with in-between stops at the ports of Kalymnos, Kos, Nisyros, Tilos, and even Kastelorizo.

Finally, every Monday and Thursday there is a direct ferry (with no in-between stops) to Kalymnos, via a local route by ANEK from the port of Pera Gialos. For information and bookings call 0030-22430 61572 or visit www.anekalymnou.gr

As there are often cancellations of routes occurring it would be advisable to confirm that the route you are interested in is running as scheduled.

Through time various populations arrived on the island of Astypalaia and each one of them gave it a new name. Its current name, Astypalaia, was given by the Dorians during the geometric period, and it means old town (Asty:town + palaia:old).

It has also been named Astropalia (Astro:star + palia:old), Pyrra (Pyrra: fire, the Phoenicians named it that due to the fire red colour of its rocks), Pylaia, Stambalia, Bank of the Gods, Ichthyoessa (Lady of the Fishes, due to the abundance of fish in the island’s seas).

According to Greek mythology, Astypalaia and Europe were the daughters of Phoenix and Perimedes. From the union of Astypalaia and Poseidon, Agaeos, the Argonaut, and Evrypylus, the king of Kos, were born.

HISTORY

The island of Astypalaia was first inhabited during the pre-historic years by the Kares and the Minoans. After this the Leleges established themselves there as some findings of earlier type installations attest (for example the violin-shaped figurine exhibited in the Astypalaia museum, some obsidian blades and a counter-clockwise spiral on the surface of the rock in Vathy). Also, the universally unique archaeological monument of the cemetery of Kylindra, where approxim. 2500 infants are buried in clay vessels, is said to have been established in that period.

HELLENISTIC AND ROMAN AGE

During the Hellenistic period Astypalaia was used as the main port of the Ptolemies of Egypt. It became widely known because of its rich fishery product.

During the roman occupation Astypalaia gained many privileges, because by using many of the island’s ports as attacking bases, the Romans were able to effectively fight against piracy, which nevertheless established itself again during the Byzantine period. At that time, the island population moved to the inner area, the sea-side settlements were abandoned and castles were built to protect the inhabitants from pirate raids.

After 1204, the island came under Venetian rule and by 1537 it had been handed over to the Querini family. Then it came under Turkish rule, up until 1912, when it became part of Italy, and in 1948 it became part of Greece, like all the islands of the Dodecanese.

It is worth pointing out that Astypalaia is the only Greek island in the earth of which, from antiquity till today, snakes and scorpions have never been able to survive. There is a relevant reference in a work by Aristotle, which says: ‘The earth of Astypalaia is the enemy of the snakes’. Various sources try to set-out an explanation: for some the island is a passage for storks that exterminate snakes and scorpions, for others it is the fact of its earth’s high sulfur content, while many connect this phenomenon with the legend regarding Saint Anthimos’s curse before his death. He had said: ‘may there be no snakes in this here island, may the men be the snakes’.

The island of Astypalaia was the birthplace of many personalities during antiquity, among them, Phalaris, the tyrant of Agrigentum of Sicily, Onesicretus, the student of philosopher Diogenis, and Olympic medalist, Cleomedes, a boxer who was deprived of his victory in a boxing match due to his having killed his opponent. As soon as he returned to Astypalaia, in a fit of madness, he pulled down a supporting pillar, thus killing 60 students. Pursued by the residents of Astypalaia he closed himself in a trunk in the temple of Athena. When the inhabitants opened the trunk and did not find him in there, they appealed to the priestess of Delphi, who then advised them to honour him as an immortal.

ARGIRIS KAMBOURIS

Argiris Kambouris, born on 24 January 1962, is an ex basketball player and current trainer. He is an emblematic personality of Olympiakos of Piraeus, and the most significant moment of his career was the 1987 Eurobasket tournament, in the context of which he scored the two last free throws of the final against the Soviet Union, and gave the National Greek team the cup. Over the last years he has worked for the Olympiakos club as a technical consultant.

ANTHIMOS KAPSIS

Anthimos Kapsis (3/09/1950- ) is an ex international footballer who used to play in the position of centre-back (sweeper). He is the father of Mihalis Kapsis, who is also an ex international footballer.

GIANNIS ADARTIS

Giannis Adartis was born in Astypalaia on 25 December 1944, but from being a small child he has lived in Leros. He studied as a civil engineer in Italy, in the University of Napoli, and later on returned to Leros, where he was self-employed. From a young age he delved into Leros’ community issues and he has taken on the role of president in cultural, social and athletic unions of the island. He was also president of the Leros State Rehabilitative Sanatorium at some point, and he also served as mayor of Leros for three four-year terms. His social work was honoured with the Golden Cross of the Dodecanesian Church of the Ecumenical Throne by Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, as well as by UNICEF, and by the ex president of the U.S.A. George Bush, who gave him the title of ‘honorary citizen of the state of Texas’. He also wrote the book ‘Links of Life‘.

NIKITAS KASTRINOS

Traditional musician Nikitas Kastrinos was born on the island of Astypalaia to a poor family. Raised in a family with musical knowledge, as his grand-father played the lyra and his father had knowledge of the lute, they often all went to Hydra together and, with their music, accompanied the mechanics on their embarkation. But Nikitas wanted to learn the violin and he went to Rhodes to take lessons. Being the heart and soul of the local fairs, to honour him, the Municipal Conservatory of Astypalaia was named after him.

IORDANIS MARKONIOS

Self-taught lute player Iordanis was born and raised in Symi, but settled in Astypalaia. His regular job was that of sponge-merchant, but his heart’s desire was music. With his lute, he accompanied Nikitas Kastrinos at local fairs and festivities.

Hotels & Apartments in Astypalaia Island, Dodecanese

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Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseKallichoron Art Boutique Hotel is the perfect destination for those seeking a relaxing and stylish getaway to Astypalea island. Just moments away from the picturesque Chora, Kallichoron offers breathtaking views of the island’s landscape,...View More

Astypalaia Island, Dodecanese Beaches

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Ble Limanaki Beach

Analipsi - Maltezana, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseBlue harbor beach or Ble Limanaki in Greek is a small, picturesque, calm beach, about 300-350m from the harbour of Maltezana. The beach is easily accessible by a short, quiet dirt-road.
During the summer months it becomes very crowded....View More

Agios Vasilios Beach

Livadi, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseJust after Livadi you will come across the beach of Agios Vasilios. One also finds the homonymous church here.
Access by car is very easy.
It has sand and pebbles, and though it is not an organized beach, visitors can find shade...View More

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseA secluded, sandy beach, with a warm sea and clean waters, on the back part of Maltezana, just before the airport. It is not organized, nor does it have natural shading.
Due to its location, it is affected by the north winds.View More

Chrisi Ammos Beach - Chrisi Akti Beach

Second Marmari Beach

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThe beach is just 2.5km from the Chora. It has sand and quite a large amount of marram grass stretched along it.
We also find the island’s camping site on this beach.View More

Second Marmari Beach

Pera Gialos Beach

Pera Gialos, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseOne of the island’s most cosmopolitan beaches, located at a small distance from the Chora.
It is sandy, with very clean waters, marram grass that stretches across the beach, offering ample shading and due to its location, the beach...View More

Pera Gialos Beach

Mesa Vathi Beach

Mesa Vathi, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseYou can swim in the beach of the cove, which is sheltered and reminds one of a lagoon.View More

Analipsi - Maltezana, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseA sandy beach, a few meters east of Analipsi/Maltezana.
It is organized, with sun beds.
It is one of the island’s most popular beaches, with picturesque little tavernas spread all along it.View More

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseA lovely beach with a bar, a taverna and a beautiful view of the Chora.
Because it is often affected by winds, if you don’t want waves in the sea, you will need to take the weather into account before visiting the beach.View More

Livadi, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseLivadi is the most well-known and cosmopolitan beach on the island.
It is extensive in size, has sand and fine pebbles; it is organized, with umbrellas and sun-beds, and offers visitors the opportunity to participate in sea-sports,...View More

Livadi Beach

Tzanakia Beach

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseAt a short distance from Livadi. This is a complex of small pebbly beaches, shaped in between the openings of rocks.
Nudists gather here, and it can be accessed by car using a certain path.View More

Tzanakia Beach

Vatses Beach

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseIt is on the south-western side of Astypalaia, a few kilometers further south than Kaminakia.
The beach has umbrellas, sun-beds and a nice beach bar that makes tasty cocktails with fresh fruit.
Because, due to its location, the beach...View More

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseA beautiful beach on the western part of the island.
One gets access to it either via the sea or via the path that begins at the church with the same name.
It is not an organized beach.View More

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseA few kilometers north-east of the Chora. It is a special area, in the sense that it is a strip of land that splits the island in two, and has sandy beaches with clean, shallow waters.
The beach of Mikro Steno is quieter and more...View More

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseIt is on the southwestern side of the island, with crystal blue, cool waters.
It mainly has pebbles, and is sandy in certain spots.
It is an organized beach, with umbrellas, while, during the summer months, at a short distance from...View More

Kaminakia Beach

Sights (19)

What to see in Astypalaia Island, Dodecanese

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Venetian Castle of Querini

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThe Venetian Castle carries the coat of arms of the homonymous family.
Architecturally, the castle belongs to the fortified type of abode in which the external walls of the houses form a wall with small windows that function as embrasures....View More

Cave of the Dragon

Mesa Vathi, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThis is one of the three renowned caves of the island (the other two are the Negro’s Grotto in the area of Vatses and the Cave of Panagia Poulariani in Analipsi or Maltezana).
It is located on the northern side of the island, at...View More

Cave of the Dragon

Ecclesiastical Museum of Astypalaia

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseAstypalaia’s Ecclesiastical Museum, which houses a significant collection of old, rare icons, is located in a building next to Panagia Portaitissa.
Open daily from 18:30 to 20:30.View More

Ecclesiastical Museum of Astypalaia

Megali Panagia Church

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThis church is part of a complex of five churches, which create a unique picture against the backdrop of the sea.
In the yard, visitors can admire the lovely pebbled floor.View More

Megali Panagia Church

Agia Varvara Christian Basilica Church

Analipsi - Maltezana, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThis church is built on a hill, on the ruins of an early Christian Basilica (5th century) with excellent mosaics; it even has an ionic capital column at the lintel of the chapel. In the church yard we find monolithic columns and bases,...View More

Agia Varvara Christian Basilica Church

Evaggelistria Church

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThis is one of the two churches located inside the Venetian Castle. This church is at the entrance of the Castle and was built in 1853. Its majestic bell-tower is truly impressive. All-white, with an azure dome, like the other church...View More

Evaggelistria Church

Panagia Flevariotissa Monastery

Astypalaia Island, DodecanesePanagia Flevariotissa is built on the hollow of a hill-side. Part of the church is built inside a cave, while the structure has been completed with a Byzantine type edifice. The church was a centre of worship in ancient times.
It...View More

Panagia Flevariotissa Monastery

Monument of French Admiral Bisson

Analipsi - Maltezana, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseNear Schinondas, at the top of a peninsula, we come across the monument of Admiral Bisson.
Admiral Bisson was a leader in the 18th century battle against the pirates. In 1827, due to an intense storm, he moored into Maltezana, where...View More

Monument of French Admiral Bisson

Analipsi Chapel

Analipsi - Maltezana, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThe chapel is the oldest in the settlement of Maltezana.View More

Analipsi Chapel

Castle of Agios Ioannis

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseIt is located opposite the monastery of the same name. It was a natural fortress and it had a secret exit to the nearby hill. It is there that the inhabitants took refuge during the difficult years of pirate raids in the 7th century....View More

Castle of Agios Ioannis

Panagia Poulariani Cave

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseIt is one of the island’s three caves (the others are the Nigger’s grotto in the area of Vatses and the Cave of the Dragon at Vathy).
You will come across it on your way to Vathy. There you will find the chapel of Panagia Poulariani,...View More

Panagia Poulariani Cave

Panagia Portaitissa Church

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThe church of Panagia Portaitissa dominates the scene, high up on the Chora. It is located in Rodia village, on the foothills of the Venetian castle, and was established by Saint Anthimos in the middle of the 18th century.
Its wood-carved...View More

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseSouth of the Chora, in the Kylindra area, we find the only infant cemetery in the world with 2.758 burials in clay vessels, of mostly new-born babies. During ancient times this was a common method of burying infants, in vessels, pots,...View More

Infant Cemetery

Talaras Baths

Analipsi - Maltezana, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseIn the late-roman baths of Talaras, visitors can admire the edifices of the bathing place as well as the Hellenistic mosaics, one of a kind in Greece, with azure and brick shades and an interesting composition, themed around the seasons...View More

Talaras Baths

Archaeological Museum of Astypalaia

Pera Gialos, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThe island’s Archaeological Museum was inaugurated in September 1998.
The ground-floor hall it is housed in was a grant to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture by the Ecclesiastical Charity Fund of Astypalaia in 1994.
The museum’s...View More

Archaeological Museum of Astypalaia

Agios Nikolaos Church

Pera Gialos, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseAt a short distance from Pera Gialos we find the church of Agios Nikolaos.
It has a yard and a majestic light blue dome.
The church’s feast takes place on 6 December.View More

Agios Nikolaos Church

Nigger’s Grotto Cave

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseIn the area of Vatses we find one of the island’s three caves (the other two are the cave of the Dragon at Vathy and the cave of Panagia Poulariani in Analipsi). It is called ‘the Nigger’s Grotto’ and it has beautiful stalagmites...View More

Nigger’s Grotto Cave

Agios Georgios Church

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThis is one of the two churches that are inside the Castle. Built in 1790, it has an impressive wood-carved temple. All white, with an azure dome, like the other church inside the castle, Evaggelistria, it creates quite an impression,...View More

Agios Georgios Church

Activities (3)

What to do in Astypalaia Island, Dodecanese

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Climbing at Ftera

Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseIf you like adventure, then you ought to visit the climbing field ‘Ftera’.
It is located at a short distance from the Chora (20 minutes by car via a good dirt-road).
It is split into two sections (because of the bas-relief of...View More

Climbing at Ftera

Hiking in Chora Astypalaia

Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseThose who love walking can take the route to Chora, following the ascending, but extremely beautiful cobbled streets, which are filled with lovely colours and scents.
From the Town Hall begin two of the main roads that reach the Castle....View More

Pera Gialos, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseAkti Seafood Restaurant undoubtedly, it is one of the best seafood restaurants on the island that has forged a 15-year reputation for dining excellence. Enjoys an idyllic location, as it seems to literally hang over the sea, offering...View More

Pera Gialos, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, Dodecanese
Small ouzeri on beach of Pera Gialos in Astypalaea with 12 tables.You
can eat every day fresh food or enjoy yr drinks with nice atmosphere and
music.
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Astypalaia Chora, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecanesePanorama Club is a night Club which is amusement destination for many people from Astypalaia but also for many tourists who have visited Astypalaia all these years.View More

Analipsi - Maltezana, Astypalaia, Astypalaia Island, DodecaneseAstypalaia Island National Airport (IATA: JTY, ICAO: LGPL), also known as "Panaghia" Airport, is an airport on Astypalaia Island, Dodecanese, Greece. The facility is located nearby the village Analipsis and approximately 12 km northeast...View More